Jay Midnyte

T.I. granted his first sit-down interview since he was arrested for, and pled guilty to, three firearms charges last month.

Q. Who is T.I. — or Clifford Harris, Jr., now?

A. It's hard to say because a lot of things are the same and a lot of things have changed. I still have a huge amount of passion for what I do. I still have a huge amount of passion for doing what I can for the community. I still have my foundation — remembering where I came from and principles that have been instilled in me. But at the same time I also have an acknowledgement of things that need to be left behind, let go. And also an acknowledgment that there has to be an about-face. A 180-degree turn, in order for us to continue on the path to success.

Q. Do you feel lucky?

A. I feel blessed. Lucky ain't the word. It's by the grace of God that I'm here.

Q. People don't hear you talking about God on record or in person.

A. When you do the amount of praying that anybody in a situation similar to mine spends the time doing, and for that prayer to work, and for you to have other people praying for you to get through the situation - or to see the situation beginning to look up — and not acknowledge that's what helped the situation, I think that's blasphemous.

Q. You probably did more praying between October and last month than maybe you ever have, huh?

A. Nah, nah, I can't say that. I've always [drifts off] situations tend to arise and prayer tends to give the strength to get through it. I've always recognized that I'm blessed to be here. I've said that in my music — plenty of times. So may different outcomes could have been mine... God shows me favor for some reason or another.

Q.What have you learned bout yourself, being on house arrest for months?

A. Patience. Just a lot of patience. If I can sit at home all day and wait on people to bring me what I need. Wait on getting permission to be able to do this and do that it's not as serious as I used to make it sometimes. Sometimes it was like, 'If I don't get this right now I'm just going to lose it'...When you're going 350 mph it tends to be that way. But when you are stopped — halted — not slowed down, but halted, you figure 'Well I could have just slowed down. I didn't have to be stopped.' I thought it was bad just to slow down. Now I see in me being stopped, I could have done this, been this, myself, instead of being forced to do it. (Full Interview)

I think T.I. truly is blessed to be in this situation because he didn't receive the 10 year sentence that he could have got. I also believe T.I.P. conducts himself in a manner that will allow him to grow from this and convey a positive message to people that need it.